A Tale of Two Markets - Part Two - The Granville Island Public Market

On April 22 we crossed the US/Canadian Border at Abbotsford, BC. It is good to be home. I know we are still a long way from home, home, and I am not sure what it is, but Canada does feel different from the US. It started with the friendly, but efficient, customs officer who welcomed us home, wished us safe journey and waved us through. Although you could tell she was assessing the situation and examining us carefully as she did so.

And nowhere was the change more evident than the difference between the Pike Place Market in Seattle, a busy, chaotic, every-man-for-himself kind of place and the Granville Island Public Market, an equally as busy, but orderly, would-you-like-to-get-in line-here, that will be $2 please and thank you kind of place.

We loved the Granville Island Public Market. Beyond everything else I guess it appealed to our Canadian sense of order and good manners.

The entrance was attractive but very unassuming:

But what food choices were behind it

Bread

Berries Galore

I counted 5 veggie and fruit vendors, there may be more.

Including one that specialized exclusively in Thai veggies, spices and herbs

Fresh pasta made while you watch.

Several seafood vendors. We bought some beautiful fresh salmon.

Pastries galore

And pie

Including these wonderful pot pies

Which you can enjoy in the indoor dining area or outside on the patio

Where you can enjoy a marvelous view of Vancouver's downtown condos.

People living in these condos (and other areas along False Cheek) can travel to the market via these cute little Aqua Buses which dock right in front of the patio.:

Wouldn't these be great in Halifax Harbor and Bedford Basin.

As you may have assumed the market is located on Granville Island and is linked to the rest of Vancouver by a bridge. Our original intention was to spend two hours at the market then spend the rest of our day exploring tourism spots in the city. But the island was so interesting we stayed there for the day.

Granville Island was originally an industrial area and many of the buildings have been converted to house small shops, art galleries and studios, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and much, much more. But one industrial operation has remained - Ocean Cement. They have gone to great effort to fit in by having an annual open house, installing an art piece that explains the cement making process with animated clods and wheels, etc.

And decorating their trucks with a market theme:

I could not get a good photo of the other two trucks but one was a strawberry and the other a beet or turnip (I think)

Two other highlights of our visit to the Island:

This great little hammock shop

And these Smart Cars (called zip cars) which are used in Vancouver's car share program.

I owned a Smart Car before we started this adventure and they hold a special place in my heart.

The campground where we stayed during this part of our trip was Cultus Lake Thousand Trails RV. Our final stay with the TT organization. This was a great spot located about 100 km (60 miles) from Vancouver, beside the Cultus Lake Provincial park, near several golf courses and just minutes from Chilliwack, BC.

We planned to spend a couple more days in Vancouver exploring and visiting friends but unfortunately it rained (and I mean RAINED - as it buckets full!!) for most of our stay so we finally gave up an moved to Peachland BC. Where we are now. We love it here and will stay until the snow leaves Jasper - hopefully next week.

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